Infrared Technology for Bed Sore Detection
May 28, 2014 | The Rooth Law Firm Nursing Home Abuse
Bedsores are all too prevalent occurrences in nursing homes. Anywhere from 2 to 28% of nursing home residents develop bedsores. Bedsores occur when the skin is pinched between a person’s body weight and an unrelenting surface, such as a wheelchair seat or a compressed mattress. Pressure develops at the pinch point and can cause damage to the skin and underlying tissues. Most commonly, the pressure point is located under the skin and is not easy to visibly see on the skin’s surface. A deep pressure point can slowly fester and when the bedsore breaks the surface of the skin, it will develop into a nasty wound that is open to the surrounding environment. If the wound goes untreated or unnoticed, an infection can form in the wound bed. In the most severe cases of nursing home abuse and neglect, even maggots have been found in bedsore wounds.
Prevention and Early Treatment Are Key
The best way to deal with bedsores is to take steps to prevent their development in the first place. However, once a bedsore develops, the best way to treat it is to alleviate the conditions that are causing it to form. Bedsores exist in 4 stages, and the first two stages are the easiest to treat and the most common. In fact, stage one bedsores are characterized by no open wound and will go away on their own if pressure is relieved from the wound site. Early detection that a bedsore is forming can save a nursing home resident a lot of pain and suffering in the long run.
Using New Technology To Prevent Severe Bedsores
Since early detection of bedsores is critical, numerous research institutes have conducted research on the physiology of bedsores and have developed solutions for prevention and the early detection of bedsores. For example, researchers at Drexel University’s School of Biomedical Engineering in Philadelphia have developed a device that can detect the formation of bedsores under the skin before the bedsore shows any visible signs of existence on the skin’s surface. The device uses diffuse near-infrared light that is directed toward the skin of a patient using lenses, to conduct scans of the skin at various depths. The data collected from the scans can be processed and indicate where a bedsore is forming under the skin.
Contacting a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Serving Chicago
If someone you love resides in an Illinois nursing home and has developed a bedsore, it is likely because someone at the nursing home who is supposed to be providing care has neglected your loved one. Resident neglect is nursing home abuse and your loved one should not have to suffer through it. Please contact the nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at The Rooth Law Firm today at (847) 869-9100, or reach out to us online for a free consultation. We have handled many cases related to residents who developed bedsores in the nursing home facility and have the knowledge and skills necessary to get your loved one the justice they deserve.